This is a knowledge and competence-building project, not a research project. The University of Oslo and the Kyiv School of Economics collaborate to build specialised knowledge about Ukraine's health system in Norway, with emphasis on the system's history, its rebuilding during the war, and ongoing reforms linked to European integration.
The project combines three elements: a systematic mapping of knowledge about the Ukrainian health system; formal education through a new 10 ECTS master's course and supervision of master's theses; and active dissemination to public administration and businesses through an open knowledge platform, seminars, a Norwegian–Ukrainian health system conference, an e-book, a podcast series and videos.
The project has three target groups: master's students at UiO; seminar and conference participants from public administration and businesses; and users of the knowledge platform.
Objectives
The project strengthens Norwegian expertise on Ukraine's health system, so that Norwegian policy-makers, public administration, businesses and academia gain a better knowledge base for cooperation with Ukraine. By the end of the project,
- Norwegian decision-makers will have access to up-to-date descriptions and analyses of the Ukrainian health system and its needs;
- a new master's course on Ukraine's health system will be established at UiO, and ten master's students will have worked on theses on Ukrainian health topics;
- Norwegian actors will have access to mappings of needs and opportunities in the Ukrainian health sector through an open knowledge platform.
Background
The war and the need for reconstruction pose major challenges to Ukraine's health services. At the same time, the country is carrying out extensive reforms as part of its preparations for European integration. Norway has committed to long-term support through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, and in 2025 the two countries entered into a health partnership agreement. Knowledge about the Ukrainian health system nevertheless remains fragmented in Norwegian public administration, business and academia. This weakens the ability to design targeted assistance, evidence-based policy and effective cooperation. The project responds to this need by collecting and communicating knowledge, establishing lasting cooperation, and creating meeting places for Norwegian actors who wish to contribute to the development of the Ukrainian health sector.
Outcomes
The project is organised in work packages, each with its own outcomes. Knowledge mapping and course development (December 2025 – August 2026) provides a systematic overview of the Ukrainian health system and a teaching compendium on Ukrainian health economics and health policy. Teaching (January 2026 – December 2027) centres on the new 10 ECTS master's course HMAN5101, offered in five master's programmes at UiO, with Ukrainian guest lecturers and open seminars. The first cohort of 30–40 students completes the course in 2026, and a second cohort follows in 2027. Work on master's theses (August 2026 – December 2027) includes supervision of ten master's students with a Ukraine focus and master's scholarships, and will result in at least five completed and five ongoing theses. Dissemination and networking (October 2026 – December 2027) delivers a digital knowledge platform in 2026 and, in 2027, a Norwegian–Ukrainian health system conference, an e-book on the Ukrainian health system, a podcast series, and video lectures with short summary videos. Evaluation and quality assurance (December 2025 – December 2027) runs throughout the project, with a baseline, a mid-term and a final evaluation.
